Harry's Last Battles & Rowling's Beliefs
A review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
By Berit Kjos - July 24, 2007
Background: Harry's Last Battles & Rowling's Beliefs (book review)
Index to all our
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Harry's Last Battles & Rowling's Beliefs A review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows By Berit Kjos - July 24, 2007 Background: Harry's Last Battles & Rowling's Beliefs (book review) |
Index to all our
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"Days before the release of the seventh and final novel in the series, youth leaders are being told they could use the popularity of the Potter books and films as a 'launch pad' for exploring Christian themes." [1] 'Use Harry Potter to spread Christian message'
"The story of Harry Potter is, and always was, a Christian allegory - a fictionalized modern day adaptation of the life of Christ, intended to introduce his character to a new generation....
"...knowing more about her [Rowling's] religious beliefs is not just crucial, not just enormously significant, but will blow the whole thing open, so that even a 10 year old will be able to figure it out."[2]
Abigail BeauSeigneur
"The Harry Potter novels... address the need... we have for spiritual nourishment in the form of edifying, imaginative experience of life in Christ.
"[3] John Granger
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness..." Isaiah 5:20
"The story of Harry Potter is an allegory," observed Peter Lanz, a former temple-master in an occult order. "It is written and packaged to look like fantasy when, in truth, it is a carefully written true description of the training and work of an initiate in an occult order." Peter continues,
"...everything Harry does is an extension of his belief system. His foundation is in magic through will. The concept that magick is an extension of will is a foundational occult truth and is diametrically opposed to the Christian concept of will where every born again believer’s individual will is brought into submission under Christ."[4]
In spite of this unbridgeable chasm between occultism and Christianity, Joanne Rowling insists that she is a believer. She has kept the details of her faith a secret, explaining that such information would disclose the mysterious ending of her popular story. So when asked if she was a Christian, she gave this answer:
"Yes, I am, which seems to offend the religious right far worse than if I said I thought there was no God. Every time I’ve been asked if I believe in God, I’ve said yes, because I do, but no one ever really has gone any more deeply into it than that, and I have to say that does suit me, because if I talk too freely about that, I think the intelligent reader, whether 10 or 60, will be able to guess what’s coming in the books.”[5]
Now that the final book is out, there's no need to guess. We know the end of the story -- one that apparently corresponds to the author's beliefs. So what does it tell us?
Rowling created a hero with many noble characteristics, and in this last book, Harry willingly gives his life. Responding to a message he magically received from Hogwarts' former Headmaster Dumbledore through Professor Snape's memories, the young wizard walks unarmed up to the evil wizard Voldemort, who points his wand at him and projects a killing curse. Harry falls down, apparently dead.
He awakens in a large hall. Noticing his own nakedness, he wishes to be clothed -- and some fitting clothes magically appear. [See A New Mask for an Ancient Secret] Then Dumbledore (who died in the previous book) arrives and praises Harry for his courageous sacrifice. Here are some glimpses into their long, mysterious conversation:
"'But you're dead,' said Harry.
"'Oh yes,' said Dumbldore matter-of-factly.
"'Then ... I'm dead too?'
"'... on the whole, dear boy, I think not....'
“'...But I should have died -- I didn't defend myself! I meant to let him kill me!'
“'And that,' said Dumbledore, 'will, I think, have made all the difference.' Happiness seemed to radiate from Dumbledore....
“So the part of his soul that was in me. ... has it gone?'
“'Oh yes!' said Dumbledore. “Yes, he destroyed it. Your soul is whole, and completely your own, Harry.'...
“'But if Voldemort used the Killing Curse... and nobody died for me this time — how can I be alive?'
“'I think you know,' said Dumbledore....
“'He took my blood,' said Harry.
“'Precisely!' said Dumbledore. 'He took your blood and rebuilt his living body with it! Your blood in his veins, Harry.... He tethered you to life while he lives!'
“'I live... while he lives? But I thought... I thought it was the other way round! I thought we both had to die?'...
“You were the seventh Horcrux.... What you must understand, Harry, is that you and Lord Voldemort have journeyed together into realms of magic hitherto un-known and untested.'" (707-709)
A Horcrux? What is it? Why is it important?
Fearing death, Voldemort had hidden pieces of his soul in seven Horcruxes (containers). By now, Harry and his friends had found and destroyed five of these magical receptacles. Two were left when Harry's near-death experience began.
One was Harry himself. So if Harry had simply killed his arch-enemy, a piece of Voldemort's murderous soul would still be hidden inside Harry. For some time, this soul-link between the supposedly "good" wizard and the evil wizard had given Harry a painful access to Voldemort's thoughts and emotions. Only by giving his life could Harry be freed from this bondage.
Now, the only remaining Horcrux is Nagini, Voldemort's huge pet snake. Knowing the challenges ahead, Harry continues his conversation with Dumbledore:
"'I’ve got to go back, haven’t I?'
“'That is up to you.' ....
“'Tell me one last thing,' said Harry. 'Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?'...
“'Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?'” (721-722)
Harry chooses to return to his lifeless body at Voldemort's feet. After some torturous tests to verify the absence of life, Voldemort declares that Harry is dead. He will soon realize his error, for Harry has still another battle to fight and win.
But Harry's final victory is less significant than the above near-death encounter. By presenting a counterfeit version of Biblical salvation, Rowling gives her readers an image of a counterfeit Christianity that embraces the occult. Most people accept it as true, for such dialectical lies (union of opposites) -- taught through occult systems such as the Kabbalah, Gnosticism, Rosicrucianism, and Unity -- have now become an accepted way of thinking around the world. Indeed, what God calls evil, now seems deceptively good![6]
Only by standing firm on God's Truth can we resist such tantalizing deceptions. Yet churches around the world are choosing to ignore politically incorrect Scriptures such as these:
"There shall not be found among you anyone who... practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead [necromancy]. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out..." Deuteronomy 18:10-12
"And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine." Leviticus 20:26
Merging opposites: good and evil, light and dark.....
As in Old Testament days, today's world sees God's guidelines concerning occult influences as a hindrance to their quest for mystical thrills. In contrast, blending good and evil makes sense to postmodern churches. And as Harry and his friend Hermione point out, such compromise serves the pluralistic vision for "common good."
John Granger, author of Looking for God in Harry Potter, may be the most effective promoter of this dialectical heresy. He puts the entire series into an occult context.
Notice the references to the union of opposites -- and to the occult use of Scriptures -- in Granger's quotes:
"...the principal activity of alchemy is the chemical marriage of the imbalanced 'arguing couple': masculine sulfur and feminine quicksilver. These two qualities have to be reconciled and resolved (die and be reborn) before then can be rejoined in a perfected golden unity. Opposites have to be reconciled and resolved for there to be a new life.
"Alchemists frequently cited Christ's words: '...except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.' (John 12:24) Alchemists took this verse and the hope of eternal life in Christ's death and resurrection as a scriptural confirmation that their doctrines were correct."[3, page 44]
Those who immerse their minds in Rowling's occult message enter into a virtual experience -- not of Christian redemption -- but of this magical merger of good and evil. God warns us to shun any such "common ground" between His Truth and the world's illusions. For,
"...what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.' 'Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate,' says the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-17
"Walk as children of light for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord." Ephesians 5:8-10
Rowling's twisted gospel clouds minds and corrupts the truth. It pleases man, not God. Yet, even global leaders like Rick Warren support this pagan movement. His "Ministry Toolbox" newsletter (June 21) included this promotion by James Emery White:
"Though the seventh and final installment is yet to be released (July 21, to be exact), when it does, it will be well-worth reading. Though some would disagree, I am one to put Rowling’s work in the camp of fantasy literature, along with Lewis and Tolkien, with her use of magic more mechanical than occultic. I found her earlier six volumes instant classics of the genre, and the final book will undoubtedly cement this series as among the best written."[7]
But our friend Peter Lanz (who left the world of the occult decades ago), warns us that
"It is not only foolish but it is also dangerous to dismiss the indoctrination of the adventures of Harry Potter with the excuse, 'It’s ONLY fiction,' 'it’s JUST a book,' something without a real agenda. The agenda of J. K. Rowling is very real — she is writing to instill in children a familiarity with occult 'truth.'"
The nature of Rowling's beliefs and savior
With this final book came the clues to Rowling's "Christian" beliefs. Ponder these comparisons:
1. No need for the cross. The true Christ was holy and sinless; Harry Potter was neither. From an occult perspective, he was a relatively "good" wizard, but his life and associations model the dark evil forces arrayed against God from the beginning of time. His powerful magic is an extension of his own will -- exercised not by faith in God, but by willful projection of an occult power usually channeled through a magical object. Representing the "beautiful side of evil," as Johanna Michelson called it long ago, his supposed likeness to Jesus is a mockery of our Lord. Remember how God views occult practitioners:
"...he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger." 2 Chronicles 33:6
2. Victory through human effort. The saving work of the true Christ was finished on the cross. In contrast, Harry killed Voldemort after his near-death experience. As a wizard, his "work" relied on a forbidden magical formula used by sorcerers or occultists through the ages: mental concentration, purposeful visualization, and willful projection of an occult force -- usually channeled through a magical object.
"...what communion has light with darkness? ... 'Come out from among them and be separate." 2 Corinthians 6:14-17
3. Fellowship with the dead. Unlike Jesus who knelt in prayer to His Father before facing the cross, Harry met with the wizards he loved before his false death. His murdered father, mother, and special friends walked and talked with him before his surrender to Voldemort. Afterwards, he met with the dead (yet alive) Dumbledore. These encounters illustrate necromancy -- the forbidden act of communicating with the dead. Can authors who commend what God abhors be followers of Christ?
4. Loving the forces of evil rather than God. Ultimately, any comparison between the world of witchcraft and the Kingdom of God is meaningless. Harry's actions are accomplished in an occult context that is abhorrent to our holy God. The domain of darkness will always clash with God's way, truth and life! [See God's Way versus Our ways]
Since few mythical saviors have more power to draw crowds than Harry Potter, it's not surprising that Rowling's message is praised as a "launch pad" for "exploring Christian themes." All the more, we need to "be on guard" -- always ready to test what we hear by the light of God's Word.
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." Colossians 2:8
God's way to victory
Unlike Harry's fans who relish occult empowerment and magical skills, the friends of Jesus can delight in the peace and promises of God:
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ... and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:1-9
For “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Index to Harry Potter articles
| Occult roots of Harry Potter magicHow mysticism & the occult are changing the Church
1. 'Use Harry Potter to spread Christian message', (7-18-07) at www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;?xml=/news/2007/07/17/npotter217.xml
2. Abigail BeauSeigneur at www.mugglenet.com/editorials/editorials/edit-beauseigneura01.shtml
3. John Granger, Looking for God in Harry Potter (Tyndale House, ) at www.crossroad.to/articles2/04/harry-granger.htm
4. Occult roots of Harry Potter magic and How mysticism & the occult are changing the Church at www.crossroad.to/Excerpts/warnings.htm
5. Accio Quote! at www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-vancouversun-wyman.htm
6. Warnings - How mysticism & the occult are changing the Church
7. "Ministry Toolbox" newsletter (June 20) at www.pastors.com/RWMT/?ID=316&artid=10674&expand=1